Island at forefront in Liberal resolutions
Les Leyne, Columnist,
Times Colonist
May 24, 2014
Going by the topics up for debate at the B.C. Liberal convention this weekend, you’d almost think the party was strong on Vancouver Island.
More than 1,100 delegates are faced with 91 resolutions and no fewer than 34 of them are from the Island or the Sunshine Coast. Considering the party holds only two of 15 seats, it’s either an impressive show of grassroots strength or evidence someone is monkeying with the selection process.
The NDP surrendered the entire region to the Liberals in 2001, but they’ve been gaining ground back ever since. And given the resentment over ferry-fare hikes and service cuts, they could take complete control next time around.
But Island Liberals are determined to snatch some back. So they’re offering the following bold concepts this weekend for the party to rally around. And when you’re 2 for 15, you can afford to be bold.
• Cowichan Valley and Saanich North and the Islands forwarded the idea of a wholesale amalgamation blitz on the south Island. With 125 local politicians from Chemainus to Oak Bay, it’s a model of duplication with “highly paid executives and minimal integration or co-operation.”
They recommend forced consolidation with continued provincial or independent oversight to protect taxpayers. It would be considered the nuclear option in terms of its impact. But they’ve got almost nothing left to lose. On the same theme, another resolution calls for siccing the local-government auditor general on the capital region to do a performance review. There’s an ominous warning that if it ever happened, “the government may act on the recommendations.”
• The Prosperity Fund that Premier Christy Clark promised to create from liquefied natural gas revenues hasn’t materialized. And when it is enacted, it will start with zero money in it. But Sunshine Coast Liberals want to take one-third of whatever money eventually ends up in it and start eliminating B.C. Ferries debt. That would start a stampede of interest groups intent on raiding the fund for their own purposes.
Alternatively, the same group urges government to start paying ferries debt down regardless of the new fund, as soon as there’s sustained growth.
The ideas ignore the fact that a big advantage of the current management of the system is that it keeps a billion dollars in debt off the provincial books. Nanaimo Liberals have a resolution telling their government directly that dramatic fare hikes are hurting coastal communities and they need subsidy help just like the highway system.
• There’s also an assortment of Island resolutions on road transportation. Some capital region constituencies are calling for a comprehensive study of transportation needs, never mind that one was already promised and is underway in the ministry. Another calls for a safety blitz on the Malahat. It recommends “removable sections in the barriers that can easily be converted to U-turns to reduce wait times.”
They just put new barriers up a few weeks ago, now members want some taken down. And a U-turn to reduce wait times sounds a lot like giving up on the trip and going back home.
A Duncan bypass is also on the wish list. So is the fabled McKenzie interchange, which Liberals point out was supposed to be built in the 1990s “but was cancelled due to cost overruns by the then-NDP government.”
• There’s also a touching call to adjust the “gateway” boundaries. Liberals have spent a kajillion dollars on Pacific Gateway concepts in metro Vancouver and elsewhere, but not much of the money made its way to the Island. So there’s a call for an Island tourism strategy that includes an iconic “Island Gateway” facility on the Pat Bay highway. If the word “gateway” is on the sign, the thinking might be that the government might throw some money at it.
Just So You Know: The idea of changing the party’s name has been kicked around for three years now and delegates are expected to put it to rest this morning.
The idea is in a motion up for debate. But it needs two-thirds support and would only start a process to consider different names to present to the membership. Speakers are lined up to condemn it and the idea is likely doomed.
© Copyright Times Colonist
Les Leyne, Columnist,
Times Colonist
May 24, 2014
Going by the topics up for debate at the B.C. Liberal convention this weekend, you’d almost think the party was strong on Vancouver Island.
More than 1,100 delegates are faced with 91 resolutions and no fewer than 34 of them are from the Island or the Sunshine Coast. Considering the party holds only two of 15 seats, it’s either an impressive show of grassroots strength or evidence someone is monkeying with the selection process.
The NDP surrendered the entire region to the Liberals in 2001, but they’ve been gaining ground back ever since. And given the resentment over ferry-fare hikes and service cuts, they could take complete control next time around.
But Island Liberals are determined to snatch some back. So they’re offering the following bold concepts this weekend for the party to rally around. And when you’re 2 for 15, you can afford to be bold.
• Cowichan Valley and Saanich North and the Islands forwarded the idea of a wholesale amalgamation blitz on the south Island. With 125 local politicians from Chemainus to Oak Bay, it’s a model of duplication with “highly paid executives and minimal integration or co-operation.”
They recommend forced consolidation with continued provincial or independent oversight to protect taxpayers. It would be considered the nuclear option in terms of its impact. But they’ve got almost nothing left to lose. On the same theme, another resolution calls for siccing the local-government auditor general on the capital region to do a performance review. There’s an ominous warning that if it ever happened, “the government may act on the recommendations.”
• The Prosperity Fund that Premier Christy Clark promised to create from liquefied natural gas revenues hasn’t materialized. And when it is enacted, it will start with zero money in it. But Sunshine Coast Liberals want to take one-third of whatever money eventually ends up in it and start eliminating B.C. Ferries debt. That would start a stampede of interest groups intent on raiding the fund for their own purposes.
Alternatively, the same group urges government to start paying ferries debt down regardless of the new fund, as soon as there’s sustained growth.
The ideas ignore the fact that a big advantage of the current management of the system is that it keeps a billion dollars in debt off the provincial books. Nanaimo Liberals have a resolution telling their government directly that dramatic fare hikes are hurting coastal communities and they need subsidy help just like the highway system.
• There’s also an assortment of Island resolutions on road transportation. Some capital region constituencies are calling for a comprehensive study of transportation needs, never mind that one was already promised and is underway in the ministry. Another calls for a safety blitz on the Malahat. It recommends “removable sections in the barriers that can easily be converted to U-turns to reduce wait times.”
They just put new barriers up a few weeks ago, now members want some taken down. And a U-turn to reduce wait times sounds a lot like giving up on the trip and going back home.
A Duncan bypass is also on the wish list. So is the fabled McKenzie interchange, which Liberals point out was supposed to be built in the 1990s “but was cancelled due to cost overruns by the then-NDP government.”
• There’s also a touching call to adjust the “gateway” boundaries. Liberals have spent a kajillion dollars on Pacific Gateway concepts in metro Vancouver and elsewhere, but not much of the money made its way to the Island. So there’s a call for an Island tourism strategy that includes an iconic “Island Gateway” facility on the Pat Bay highway. If the word “gateway” is on the sign, the thinking might be that the government might throw some money at it.
Just So You Know: The idea of changing the party’s name has been kicked around for three years now and delegates are expected to put it to rest this morning.
The idea is in a motion up for debate. But it needs two-thirds support and would only start a process to consider different names to present to the membership. Speakers are lined up to condemn it and the idea is likely doomed.
© Copyright Times Colonist